So the more I got to thinking about my tanks flow pattern and copying some of the other programming on different threads and websites, I thought it was just wrong.
We strive to duplicate the natural reef. Which is nearly impossible. But if you think about flow in the ocean it runs on a 6 hour cycle with the tides. 2 high and 2 low per day. So if you have an Apex and controllable power heads, in my opinion, you should try to mimic a 6 hour cycle.
As you can see from my programming below, I have one basic flow cycle duplicated 4 times in a 24 hour period. I won't list what the actual programming is for each profile because every tank (size and aquascape) is different and will require different flow. I spent a considerable amount of time dialing it in.
However, I can describe the type of flow I programmed for each profile.
SLACKTIDE. This is to mimic the typical one hour slack tide in the ocean. It's the time between high and low tide. For this I simply programmed a laminar flow pattern to replicate a steady current. I may adjust the positioning of my power heads to try to get a better gyre circulating the tank.
WAVETIDELT: This is a pulsing wave pattern that moves large volumes of water back and forth. Here I'm trying to mimic a wave pattern that represents the turbulent flow that is created when tides rises and falls.
WAVETIDE: This is the same as WAVETIDELT (LT=Light) but more violent and crashing turbulence.
STORM: This is the most violent and turbulent setting. Some would call it nutrient export mode. Basically it just really churns up the water and gets any detritus out of tight spots. It only runs for a half hour every night.
The logic behind this programming if we start at the beginning of the tidal cycle is a laminar slack tide current building to a lightwave and then increasing to a strong wave and then back to a light wave and finally to a laminar slack tide, repeating the process every 6 hours. One popular myth to dispel is, "You should run your tank calm at night." I can assure you the ocean doesn't decide to be calm because its night time and many divers will testify that currents are sometimes even stronger at night. Nighttime has nothing to do with tides. The moon doesn't stop rotating at night. Lol
So here's what the programming schedule looks like.
CONTROLLABLE POWERHEAD:
Fallback ON
Set WAVETIDELT
If Time 00:01 to 01:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 01:01 to 03:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 03:01 to 04:00 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 04:01 to 06:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 06:01 to 07:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 07:01 to 09:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 09:01 to 10:00 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 10:01 to 12:01 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 12:01 to 13:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 13:01 to 15:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 15:01 to 16:00 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 16:01 to 18:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 18:01 to 19:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 19:01 to 21:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 21:01 to 21:30 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 21:31 to 22:00 Then STORM
If Time 22:01 to 24:00 Then WAVETIDELT
Some of you may argue this doesn't make a difference as long as you have good flow in the tank. My reply to that is, "Well I have the ability to do it, so why not?" No different than light manufacturers starting to produce lights that mimic dusk to dawn, seasonal changes and the lunar cycle. These creatures have adapted to live in a perfect cycle with the earth, moon and sun for hundreds of thousands of years. When in captivity we want them to feel like they are right at home in the ocean.
We strive to duplicate the natural reef. Which is nearly impossible. But if you think about flow in the ocean it runs on a 6 hour cycle with the tides. 2 high and 2 low per day. So if you have an Apex and controllable power heads, in my opinion, you should try to mimic a 6 hour cycle.
As you can see from my programming below, I have one basic flow cycle duplicated 4 times in a 24 hour period. I won't list what the actual programming is for each profile because every tank (size and aquascape) is different and will require different flow. I spent a considerable amount of time dialing it in.
However, I can describe the type of flow I programmed for each profile.
SLACKTIDE. This is to mimic the typical one hour slack tide in the ocean. It's the time between high and low tide. For this I simply programmed a laminar flow pattern to replicate a steady current. I may adjust the positioning of my power heads to try to get a better gyre circulating the tank.
WAVETIDELT: This is a pulsing wave pattern that moves large volumes of water back and forth. Here I'm trying to mimic a wave pattern that represents the turbulent flow that is created when tides rises and falls.
WAVETIDE: This is the same as WAVETIDELT (LT=Light) but more violent and crashing turbulence.
STORM: This is the most violent and turbulent setting. Some would call it nutrient export mode. Basically it just really churns up the water and gets any detritus out of tight spots. It only runs for a half hour every night.
The logic behind this programming if we start at the beginning of the tidal cycle is a laminar slack tide current building to a lightwave and then increasing to a strong wave and then back to a light wave and finally to a laminar slack tide, repeating the process every 6 hours. One popular myth to dispel is, "You should run your tank calm at night." I can assure you the ocean doesn't decide to be calm because its night time and many divers will testify that currents are sometimes even stronger at night. Nighttime has nothing to do with tides. The moon doesn't stop rotating at night. Lol
So here's what the programming schedule looks like.
CONTROLLABLE POWERHEAD:
Fallback ON
Set WAVETIDELT
If Time 00:01 to 01:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 01:01 to 03:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 03:01 to 04:00 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 04:01 to 06:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 06:01 to 07:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 07:01 to 09:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 09:01 to 10:00 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 10:01 to 12:01 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 12:01 to 13:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 13:01 to 15:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 15:01 to 16:00 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 16:01 to 18:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 18:01 to 19:00 Then SLACKTIDE
If Time 19:01 to 21:00 Then WAVETIDELT
If Time 21:01 to 21:30 Then WAVETIDE
If Time 21:31 to 22:00 Then STORM
If Time 22:01 to 24:00 Then WAVETIDELT
Some of you may argue this doesn't make a difference as long as you have good flow in the tank. My reply to that is, "Well I have the ability to do it, so why not?" No different than light manufacturers starting to produce lights that mimic dusk to dawn, seasonal changes and the lunar cycle. These creatures have adapted to live in a perfect cycle with the earth, moon and sun for hundreds of thousands of years. When in captivity we want them to feel like they are right at home in the ocean.
